Will postal scales work for reloading

I have been looking on ebay for scales. I already have a postal scale here at home. Will it work as good as a beam scale? It weighs in gram and also kilo grams?

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ranger335v

March 16, 2008, 08:24 PM

No, it won't be sensitive enough.

Sommerled

March 16, 2008, 08:25 PM

No! except for maybe the 700 nitro express or 50 BMG!:what:

Buy the cheapest Lee, Hornady, Lyman, RCBS, or Redding scale you can find made specifically for weighing powder charges. 1/10 grain accuracy is standard and required for safety. One gram = 15.43 grains, do the math!

Also, buy and read the latest Speer reloading manual before you touch or buy anything else.

Reloading is fun!

rcmodel

March 16, 2008, 09:23 PM

Buy a reloading scale and you won't have to do the math!

Even if it was sensitive enough, which it isn't, Grains & Grams conversions are enough to whizz off the Pope.

rcmodel

evan price

March 16, 2008, 09:24 PM

What sommerled said!

A Lee safety powder scale can be had for less than $20 new.

For comparison, there are 7000 grains per pound!

Can you postal scale measure in the .0001 lb range?

RyanM

March 17, 2008, 12:42 AM

To do even more unit conversion, a metric scale has to be capable of reading to within +/- 6.48 mg to be equivalent to a +/- 0.1 gr scale.

Steve C

March 17, 2008, 01:16 AM

Reloading data in the US uses Avoirdupois or Troy weight in GRAINS not Metric GRAMS for powder charges and bullet weights. One gram is 15.43 grains and powder charges must be weighed to the 1/10th grain.

This is why you need a more accurate scale, preferably one designed for weighing powder for reloading.

bensdad

March 17, 2008, 06:14 PM

I would NEVER use a postal scale (or bathroom scale or truck scale or fish scale or scalene triangle or upscale neighborhood) for weighing charges.

It would actually be interesting to try and do charges on one, then do some just by eyeballing. I bet the eyeballed rounds would be more accurate, as long as the reloader had some experience with a given load (4.8 gr. Bullseye in a .45acp, for example).

I would not, repeat, WOULD NOT shoot charges after doing this. It would just be interesting to see if one's eyes were more accurate than the wrong scale.

zxcvbob

March 17, 2008, 06:20 PM

A good postal scale will be perfect for weighing blackpowder charges for a cannon or small artillery piece. Or for weighing that ice cream tub full of 9mm brass to estimate how many are there. Or for weighing the ingredients to make your own BP.

That's about the only reloading-related uses I can think of.

MilsurpShooter

March 17, 2008, 06:41 PM

20-30 bucks, frankford arsenal digital reloading scale. No fuss, easy to use, accurate on the 3 scales I use to make sure the powder measure is throwing the right amount.

Out of Powder measure onto the Frankford Scale
Off frankford Scale onto the lee safety scale
Off that onto a tri-beam scale I "acquired"
Into the case

I don't know if a postal scale would work but when it comes to powder charges why risk it?

redneck2

March 17, 2008, 07:33 PM

It would actually be interesting to try and do charges on one, then do some just by eyeballing. I bet the eyeballed rounds would be more accurate, as long as the reloader had some experience with a given load (4.8 gr. Bullseye in a .45acp, for example).

Kinda funny....I was reloading some .223 last week end. I could usually tell to .1 what the charge of Varget was by looking in the neck of the case. I weighed them all anyway, but I was usually very close.

Then again, usually isn't good enough.

Johnny Guest

March 21, 2008, 08:40 AM

Those new to reloading frequently look for ways to cut expenses to a minimum. In 1966, I made up some dippers by soldering wire handles to empty .22 cases of varying lengths. I then took these and a little box of Unique powder to a friendly pharmacist who kindly weighed the contents of each and did the conversions for me. One shudders to think . . . :eek:

The newish member asked a pretty logical question. To those who posted sensible answers, thank you.

A little humor certainly has its place, but let's don't belittle beginners in their sincere quest for knowledge. I removed a third of the replies as being non-contributory silliness. :rolleyes: If yours is missing, you know why.

Best regards to all - -
Johnny Guest
THR Staff
H&R Forum Moderator

Walkalong

March 21, 2008, 09:27 AM

In 1966, I made up some dippers by soldering wire handles to empty .22 cases of varying lengths. 9MM cases cut to varying lengths with soldered on handles for me. More like 1984ish though, and I did not get them weighed by anybody. :eek:

I did buy a scale very soon though. :)

ADKWOODSMAN

March 21, 2008, 09:33 AM

I used .25 auto cases with wire handles for .38 sp plinking loads. Worked until I purchased my RCBS little Dandy.

dagger dog

March 21, 2008, 03:55 PM

If price is the deciding factor and you don't mind using some one elses load data buy you a set of Lee Dippers and a copy of Modern Reloading by Lee.

There's many a shooter that started loading with the Classic Lee Loader, which has your dies , decapper load data, all you need to add for a basic set up is case lube bullets, primers, powder and brass. Then your shootin' yer own handloads!

Need to add this statement the lee loader in rifle cals. only neck sizes so it's only for bolt or single shot break or sliding block rifles, not levers or auto's

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